Healthy Ageing 5

As we end the year, here is the final look at healthy ageing for a while. The look ends with the idea of how important it is to volunteer. So as we look forward to 2020 consider making volunteering one of your commitments for the new year.

Back in 2011, the Ministry of Health for British Columbia looked at what the literature said about healthy ageing. Here is some of what was in this report which was called Planning for Healthy Ageing A Literature Review, written by Eleanor Kallio, Senior Policy Analyst, Research, Knowledge Translation and Library Services Branch, Planning and Innovation Division, Ministry of Health, Victoria, British Columbia, published in 2011

Volunteering

Approximately one-third of Canadians age 65 and older volunteer; and they volunteer more hours than other age groups. This is an example of a productive ageing activity. Older adults have knowledge, skills and abilities, which they can give if barriers are removed, and opportunities made known. Volunteering offers many benefits: it helps keep people connected with communities, is associated with longevity, and increases both happiness and satisfaction. 

The reasons older adults volunteer are both personal and altruistic: to benefit the community and feel a sense of belonging, to have social interaction and mental stimulation, to feel useful, and occupy free time. For volunteering to be long-lasting and satisfying, a good and enjoyable fit is important. One should establish volunteering earlier in life, or opportunities in later life may be lost, due to declining health.

Healthy Ageing 4

Back in 2011, the Ministry of Health for British Columbia looked at what the literature said about healthy ageing. Here is some of what was in this report which was called Planning for Healthy Ageing A Literature Review, written by Eleanor Kallio, Senior Policy Analyst, Research, Knowledge Translation and Library Services Branch, Planning and Innovation Division, Ministry of Health, Victoria, British Columbia, published in 2011

Finance

At every income level, financial planning can contribute to greater well-being, and is a pillar of healthy ageing. It can help the older adult avoid or reduce poverty, and maintain an adequate income for an active and independent lifestyle. It can also provide more options, should life circumstances or health status suddenly change, and a cushion is needed. For example, if the ability to do yard work or housecleaning becomes a challenge, it can still be possible to remain at home by engaging assistance with these tasks.

A significant percentage of Canadian seniors live below the poverty line, with women at higher risk for financial insecurity in older age. Women are generally less financially prepared for retirement: they are less financially literate, save less, and live longer, so they must support themselves longer.

Many older adults rely too heavily on the Old Age Security and Canada Pension Plan as their main retirement income. One or two sources of income are not a strong financial foundation, should changes in health or circumstance occur. A three-pronged approach is recommended, public pension plus two other sources, such as savings, employer pensions or real estate investments. Most people need to pay more attention to financial planning and begin thinking earlier about the desired lifestyle in retirement and discover the steps to achieve it. All mid-life adults and older adults should become financially literate and work for financial stability.

Healthy Ageing 3

Back in 2011, the Ministry of Health for British Columbia looked at what the literature said about healthy ageing. Here is some of what was in this report which was called Planning for Healthy Ageing A Literature Review, written by Eleanor Kallio, Senior Policy Analyst, Research, Knowledge Translation and Library Services Branch, Planning and Innovation Division, Ministry of Health, Victoria, British Columbia, published in 2011.

Transportation

Mobility outside the home is important for many reasons. It enables people to maintain social connections, participate in the community, and fulfill personal needs, and it supports independence and choice. An active lifestyle can help the older adult to retain driving capacity longer since physical frailty and associated health issues commonly force driving cessation

Addressing driver fitness in older adults is often sensitive. Often people are dependent on driving and uninformed about alternatives; consequently, they feel they need to keep driving. There are safety concerns with older drivers, such as slow reaction time, driving too slowly, and not paying attention to pedestrians. Older drivers are better at identifying vision and fatigue problems, as opposed to cognitive function declines. Factors that may compromise the older adult’s driving ability include changes in the visual field, reduced hearing ability, decreased strength, coordination and flexibility, and medication side effects.

It is useful to assess driving ability in mid-life, and there are self-assessment tests readily available. Being proactive and informed about alternatives means that changes can be accommodated and lifestyle minimally disrupted when driving ceases. The older adult will live about 7 – 10 years beyond their driving ability, so anticipating future transportation matters.

Healthy Ageing 2

Back in 2011, the Ministry of Health for British Columbia looked at what the literature said about healthy ageing. Here is some of what was in this report which was called Planning for Healthy Ageing A Literature Review, written by Eleanor Kallio, Senior Policy Analyst, Research, Knowledge Translation and Library Services Branch, Planning and Innovation Division, Ministry of Health, Victoria, British Columbia, published in 2011

Housing

The majority of older adults live in their own homes and would prefer to stay there as long as possible. Both the home physical environment and surrounding environment play roles in healthy ageing. Safe, appropriate housing has features that support optimum independence, even if changes in function or ability occur. In the surrounding environment, neighbourhoods that are perceived as safe and offer walking routes to local services and parks encourage residents to rely less on their cars. Many older adults are realizing the benefits of living close to essential services and are leaving suburban and rural areas for the city.

The sooner older adults assess their living environment, the easier it will be to make changes or adaptations to support healthy ageing. If they remain until their home is no longer suitable and must move, their housing options will narrow, and they may be less able to adapt. Studies show the longer older adults remain at home, the less likely it is that they’ll move, because of financial, emotional and logistical barriers, even if the home becomes unsuitable.